Google is a privacy time bomb

And then there were four

Google is one of about four search engines that matter. There are many more than four engines, but only about four have the technology to crawl much of the web on a regular basis. As of July 2003, Yahoo owned Overture, Alltheweb, AltaVista, and Inktomi, and finally dumped Google in February 2004. Everything needed to turn Yahoo into a major search engine was now under Yahoo's roof.

It is still possible that Yahoo will shoot themselves in the foot with all of this firepower -- their desire to monetize everything appears to be high on their agenda. But so far, after only a year, Yahoo has shown that their main index search results are on a par with Google's. This is true despite the fact that Yahoo has has infiltrated some pay-per-click links into the main index. One reason for Yahoo's success is that Google's main index, though free from paid results, has declined considerably since early 2003. Amazingly, there is on average only a 20 percent overlap between Yahoo's first 100 results and Google's first 100 results for the same search -- and still, Yahoo is just as good as Google. These days there is so little room at the top of the search results heap, that any combination of algorithms will produce acceptable results. The main difference now is in the depth of the crawl.

Microsoft recently developed their own engine because they found themselves squeezed between the advertising engine of Overture and the search engine Inktomi -- both of which became Yahoo property. In 2003 Microsoft began experimenting with their own crawler. Their new engine was launched in early 2005. If Microsoft puts their greed on a back burner for a few years, by doing deep crawls and presenting a clean interface, they could do to Google what they did to Netscape. There is no "secret sauce" at Google -- we now believe it was all hype from the very beginning. (To the extent that there ever was a secret sauce, the recipe is now known by countless ecommerce spammers, which makes it a liability rather than an asset.) Thousands of engineers in hundreds of companies know how to design search engines. The only real questions are whether you can commit the resources for a deep, consistent crawl of the web, and how aggressively you want to use your search engine to make money.

That gives us Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft. The last one worth watching is Teoma/AskJeeves. Their search technology is good, and they seem serious about expanding their crawl. It remains to be seen how deeply and consistently they will be able to crawl websites with thousands of pages.

Google is easily top dog. They provide about 75 percent of the external referrals for most websites. There is no point in putting up a website apart from Google. It's do or die with Google. If we're all very lucky, one of the other three will soon offer some serious competition. If we're not lucky, we will be uploading our websites to Google's servers by then, much like the bloggers do at blogger.com (which was bought by Google in 2003). It would mean the end of the web as we know it.

It is worthwhile to understand the pressures that the average, independent webmaster is under. And given that Google is so dominant, it's important to understand the pressures that are being brought to bear on Google, Inc. It does not take too much imagination to recognize that there's a struggle going on for the soul of the web, and the focal point of this struggle is Google itself.

At one level, it's a struggle for advertising revenue. The pundits look at only this level, and are unanimous that the only advertising model on the web with any sort of future is one where little ads appear after being triggered by keyword searches, or by the non-ad content of a web page. For example, a search for Google Watch may show some ads on the right side of the screen for wrist watches. While the technique doesn't work for this example, often it serves its purpose. There is only so much pixeled real estate that the average user can be expected to survey for a given search. Today up to half of each screen is dedicated to paid ads on Google, as compared to the ad-free original Google. Everyone wants a piece of this new wave in web advertising, and Google is making a lot of money.

Unfortunately, early evidence suggests that Yahoo is less interested in pure search algorithms, than in acquiring market share in a pay-for-placement and/or pay-for-inclusion revenue stream. The same may be true for Microsoft. Even Google, dazzled by the sudden income from advertising, must be wondering why they go to all that trouble and expense to crawl the noncommercial sector. Those public-sector sites, such as the org, edu and gov domains, do not provide direct income, even though the web would be unattractive without them. All the excitement over a revived online ad market, pushed by pundits hoping for another dot-com gold rush, is beginning to look like the days when AltaVista decided that portals were the Next Big Thing. That notion caused AltaVista to lose interest in improving their crawling and searching -- which is how Google succeeded in the first place.

There has been almost no interest in establishing search engines that specialize in public-sector websites. Where is the Library of Congress? Where are the millions of dollars doled out by the Ford Foundation? How about the United Nations? Why can't some enlightened European entity pick up the slack? Everyone is asleep, while the Internet is getting spammed to death.

At another level, it's a struggle over who will have the predominant influence over the massive amounts of user data that Google collects. In the past, discussions about privacy issues and the web have been about consumer protection. That continues to be of interest, but since 9/11 there is a new threat to privacy -- the federal government. Google has not shown any inclination to declare for the rights of its users across the globe, as opposed to the rights of the spies in Washington who would love to have access to Google's user data.

Much of the struggle at this new level is unarticulated. For one thing, the spies in Washington don't talk about it. Congress has given them new powers, without debating the issues. Google, Inc. itself never comments about things that matter. The struggle recognized by Google Watch has to do with the clash of real forces, but right now all we can say is that potentially this struggle could manifest itself in Google's boardroom.

The privacy struggle, which includes both the old issue of consumer protection and this new issue of government surveillance, means that the question of how Google treats the data it collects from users becomes critical. Given that Google is so central to the web, whatever attitude it takes toward privacy has massive implications for the rest of the web in general, and for other search engines in particular.

Call it class warfare, if you like. Because that brings up the other major gripe that Google Watch has with Google. That's the PageRank problem -- the fact that Google's primary ranking algorithm has less to do with the quality of web pages, than it has to do with the "power popularity" of web pages. Their approach to ranking is anti-democratic, in that already-powerful pages are mathematically granted extra power to anoint other pages as powerful.

It's not that we believe Google is evil. What we believe is that Google, Inc. is at a fork in the road, and they have some big decisions to make. This Google Watch site is trying to articulate and publicize the situation at Google, and encourage more scrutiny of their operations. By doing this, we hope to play a small part in maintaining the web as an information tool that is more useful for the masses, than it is for the elites.

That's why we and over 500 others nominated Google for a Big Brother award in 2003. The nine points we raised in connection with this nomination necessarily focused on privacy issues:

1. Google's immortal cookie:
Google was the first search engine to use a cookie that expires in 2038. This was at a time when federal websites were prohibited from using persistent cookies altogether. Now it's years later, and immortal cookies are commonplace among search engines; Google set the standard because no one bothered to challenge them. This cookie places a unique ID number on your hard disk. Anytime you land on a Google page, you get a Google cookie if you don't already have one. If you have one, they read and record your unique ID number.

2. Google records everything they can:
For all searches they record the cookie ID, your Internet IP address, the time and date, your search terms, and your browser configuration. Increasingly, Google is customizing results based on your IP number. This is referred to in the industry as "IP delivery based on geolocation."

3. Google retains all data indefinitely:
Google has no data retention policies. There is evidence that they are able to easily access all the user information they collect and save.

4. Google won't say why they need this data:
Inquiries to Google about their privacy policies are ignored. When the New York Times (2002-11-28) asked Sergey Brin about whether Google ever gets subpoenaed for this information, he had no comment.

5. Google hires spooks:
Matt Cutts, a key Google engineer, used to work for the National Security Agency. Google wants to hire more people with security clearances, so that they can peddle their corporate assets to the spooks in Washington.

6. Google's toolbar is spyware:
With the advanced features enabled, Google's free toolbar for Explorer phones home with every page you surf, and yes, it reads your cookie too. Their privacy policy confesses this, but that's only because Alexa lost a class-action lawsuit when their toolbar did the same thing, and their privacy policy failed to explain this. Worse yet, Google's toolbar updates to new versions quietly, and without asking. This means that if you have the toolbar installed, Google essentially has complete access to your hard disk every time you connect to Google (which is many times a day). Most software vendors, and even Microsoft, ask if you'd like an updated version. But not Google. Any software that updates automatically presents a massive security risk.

7. Google's cache copy is illegal:
Judging from Ninth Circuit precedent on the application of U.S. copyright laws to the Internet, Google's cache copy appears to be illegal. The only way a webmaster can avoid having his site cached on Google is to put a "noarchive" meta in the header of every page on his site. Surfers like the cache, but webmasters don't. Many webmasters have deleted questionable material from their sites, only to discover later that the problem pages live merrily on in Google's cache. The cache copy should be "opt-in" for webmasters, not "opt-out."

8. Google is not your friend:
By now Google enjoys a 75 percent monopoly for all external referrals to most websites. Webmasters cannot avoid seeking Google's approval these days, assuming they want to increase traffic to their site. If they try to take advantage of some of the known weaknesses in Google's semi-secret algorithms, they may find themselves penalized by Google, and their traffic disappears. There are no detailed, published standards issued by Google, and there is no appeal process for penalized sites. Google is completely unaccountable. Most of the time Google doesn't even answer email from webmasters.

9. Google is a privacy time bomb:
With 200 million searches per day, most from outside the U.S., Google amounts to a privacy disaster waiting to happen. Those newly-commissioned data-mining bureaucrats in Washington can only dream about the sort of slick efficiency that Google has already achieved.

How big are we?

If you are having trouble in keeping things in perspective, just look at these Comparisons.

THIS is really fascinating - it's rather dazzling to see it presented this way.





















I certainly thought this was enlightening. beyond our sun ... It's a big universe.































Antares is the 15th brightest star in the sky.
It is more than 1000 light years away.

Now how big are you? And how big are the things that upset you day to day?
Or for that matter, the things that are important?
Keep Life In It's Real Prospective

Police Cars or Sports Cars?

German Police Car, Lamborghini Gallardo, Max Speed 320km/hr

Japan, Lancer Evo IX, Max Speed 280km/hr



France ...Pegaut... Sports GT

Spain, Audi TT, Max Speed 280km/hr

Now for the Ultimate Police Car in the World !!!
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Pakistan'i Jeep !!!

Max Speed not disclosed due to Security Reasons ...))

Funny Animation

Funny Animation

Udderly amazing self-milking cow

A cow in India has amazed dairy farmers by releasing milk completely unaided.

It's not always easy to milk a cow using the usual methods, but this cow doesn't need any human help to fill a bucket with milk.

Speedy puzzle-solving parrot

Mar 26 - A parrot solves chain puzzles faster than visitors at a Tokyo botanical garden.

The New World parrot remains undefeated, leaving her human competitors baffled by her speed.

Frances Yoon reports.

SPITZER vs. UNITED STATES

JUSTICE KENNEDY delivered the opinion of the Court, joined by Justices Souter, Ginsburg, Breyer, and Clinton

Just seven years ago, this Court proclaimed: "Liberty protects the person from unwarranted government intrusions into a dwelling or other private places. In our tradition the State is not omnipresent in the home. And there are other spheres of our lives and existence, outside the home, where the State should not be a dominant presence. Freedom extends beyond spatial bounds. Liberty presumes an autonomy of self that includes freedom of thought, belief, expression, and certain intimate conduct. The instant case involves liberty of the person both in its spatial and more transcendent dimenstions."

Those words were, of course, the opening lines of our landmark decision in Lawrence v. Texas. Those words are as important today as they were in 2003. This case, too, presents an issue of liberty, this time time outside the home, involving thought, expression, and intimate conduct. In this case, too, the State should not be a dominant presence.

This case presents the issue we carefully reserved in Lawrence. See Slip Op. at 18 (noting that that case did "not involve . . . prostitution"). We now conclude that the liberty recognized in Lawrence applies equally to private, consensual sexual conduct by adults, in whatever form of intimacy those adults design. The fact that the arrangement might, in some sense, be thought commercial does not necessarily indicate that it is anything other than consensual.

The reasoning of Lawrence fully extends to the conduct at issue here. The government has attempted to criminalize consensual adult sexual relationships, merely because that consent involves a financial transaction. Though given the name "prostitution," that ancient pejorative, full of moral condemnation, cannot survive the realities of modern understandings of the right of individuals to make their own choices in matters "involving the most initimate and personal choices a person may make in a lifetime, choices central to personal dignitiy and autonomy." Slip op. at 13, quoting Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833, 851 (1992).

As we noted in Lawrence, and as is likewise true here, [t]he petitioners were adults at the time of the alleged offense. Their conduct was in private and consensual." We noted, in Lawrence, the long line of cases supporting the constitutional right to privacy with respect to consensual sexual conduct, from Griswold to Eisenstadt to Roe to Carey to Casey. We swept aside Bowers v. Hardwick as a deviant case, departing from our norms. As we said in Lawrence, "a person relationship that, whether or not entitled to formal recognition in the law, is within the liberty of persons to choose without being punished as criminals." Slip Op. at 6. "When sexuality finds overt expression in intimate conduct with another person, the conduct can be but one element in a personal bond that is more enduring." Id. One need not endorse the sexual conduct at issue here -- one may recognize its emotional harm to third parties, such as spounses and children -- yet still recognize that an intimate sexual relationship, "whether or not" entitled to the law's embrace, cannot incur the laws condemnation. The record here shows a long relationship. The petition certainly cannot be punished as a criminal for that relationship. To do so would be to deny him the "right to define [his] own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life" -- matters "[a]t the heart of liberty." Lawrence, quoting Casey.

As in Lawrence, we acknowledge that "for centuries there have been powerful voices" to condemn prostitution "as immoral. The condumnation has been shaped by religious beliefs, conceptions of right and acceptable behavior, and respect for the traditional family. * * * These considerations do not answer the question before us, however. The issue is whether the majority may use the power of the State to enforce these views on the whole society through operation of the criminal law. 'Our obligation is to define the liberty of all, not to mandate our own moral code.'" Slip op. at 10 (quoting Casey). That liberty, as we demonstrated in Lawrence, evolves with our sense of evolutions in social understandings, reflected in changed perceptions both in the United States, and, especially, in enlightened nations of western Europe, like the Netherlands. See id. Slip op. at 11-12. As in Lawrence, so too here: "The right the petitioners seek in this cae has been accepted as an integral part of human freedom in many other countries. There has been no showing that in this country the governmental interest in circumscribing personal choice is somehow more legitimate or urgent." Slip Op. at 15.

There is no persuasive basis for distinguishing the Lawrence Liberty here. Moral condemnation is not, as we have shown, a persuasive or legitimate basis for laws interfering with intimate sexual liberty. Again, in Lawrence, we observed (following JUSTICE STEVENS's dissent in Bowers), that "'the fact that the governing majority in a State has traditionally viewed a particular practice as immoral is not a sufficient reason for upholding a law prohibiting the practice.'" , Slip Op. at 17. Nor is the fact that the arrangement may have a commercial element sufficient to distinguish this case. Abortion, which we have held to be an essential aspect of liberty, usually involves a commercial transaction. That does not lessen the liberty-refuge that we think should not be doubted.

This case, like Lawrence, involves "two adults who, with full and mutual consent from each other, engaged in sexual practices common to a [prostitution] lifestyle. The petitioners are entitled to respect for their private lives. The State cannot demean their existence or control their destiny by making their private sexual conduct a crime. The right to liberty under the Due Process Clause gives them the full right to engage in their conduct without intervention of the government." Slip Op. at 18. There is, as we have often said, "a realm of personal liberty which the government may not enter." Casey, supra at 847. The Mann Act furthers "no legitimate [government] interest which can justify its intrusion into the personal and private life of the individual."

We conclude where we began, with the stirring words of Lawrence, this time from its penultimate paragraph:

"Had those who drew and ratified the Due Process Clauses of the Fifth Amendment or the Fourteenth Amendment known the components of liberty in its manifold possibilities, they might have been more specific. They did not presume to have this insight. They knew times can blind us to certain truths and later generations can see that laws once thought necessary and proper in fact serve only to oppress. As the Constitution endures, persons in every generation can invoke its principles in their own search for greater freedom."

We uphold petitioner Spitzer's "search for greater freedom." We therefore reverse his conviction on constitutional grounds. We have no need to reach the question of the proper construction of the federal statute at issue here, for we rest our decision on the more fundamental ground that liberty protects consensual prostitution. The statute cannot constitutionally applied to the conduct for which petitioner was prosecuted.

It is so ordered.

Hillary Is "Misleading The American Public"

Greg Craig, former counsel to Bill Clinton and now Obama supporter, sat down for an interview with National Journal. His comments reflected more strongly a memo he had penned last week, suggesting that Hillary's claims of experience were overblown. An excerpt from the interview:

Q: I want to welcome Greg Craig. He is a Washington attorney and a senior adviser to the Barack Obama campaign. And he was, back in the Bill Clinton administration, the assistant to the president and special counsel and at that time a senior foreign policy adviser to President Clinton's administration. Welcome, Greg.

Craig: Nice to be here, Linda.

Q: So you have written a provocative memo for the Obama campaign making the argument that Hillary Clinton's experience as first lady, in terms of its relevance to being commander in chief and an expert on foreign policy, may have been exaggerated. How so?

Craig: Well, that was the point of my memo. If you're running for president on the basis of your claims of experience, when you then cite examples, you should be careful to be accurate. The evidence should be accurate. And my point is that Senator Clinton and her supporters have in serious ways overstated, if not grossly exaggerated, the nature of her experience. Take the Irish peace process -- which was a lengthy and arduous and difficult negotiation. She said, initially, that "I helped bring peace to Northern Ireland." Well, if you took the many, many heroes who were responsible for achieving that agreement -- I could name 20 people in Ireland. Primarily, the Irish were responsible for doing this, and the Americans were strong supporters.

But it's a little bit presumptuous for the first lady, who would meet people and support people to take credit away from the Irish themselves who did it. Terry McAuliffe said, "We would not have peace today had it not been for Hillary's hard work in Northern Ireland." That's just not true. This morning, Senator Clinton said on NPR that the role that she played in the Irish peace process was "instrumental." Well, that's not accurate. That's an overstatement. And anybody who is really knowledgeable about what went on, including George Mitchell, who wrote a book about it -- he wrote a book about the peace process, and he never mentioned any role whatsoever that Senator Clinton, or the first lady at the time, played.

Q: Well, you know, of course, that the Clinton campaign immediately put out a memo quoting George Mitchell saying that she did play a positive role over the decade in bringing peace to Northern Ireland.

Craig: Well, playing a positive role is a little bit different than claiming that you were instrumental. She wasn't involved in the tough negotiations. She played no role in resolving the tough issues. She met on one occasion in the White House with Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness, and that was nice. It was a photo opportunity. She traveled to Ireland with her husband and met with the women, and the women, of course, were heroic in their work for peace. But she can't take credit for bringing the women together. They were the courageous ones that did it themselves. What she said was, "It's a good thing you're doing it. We're all for you. I hope you're successful." That's not instrumental. That's not bringing peace to Ireland.

Q: You also say that the claim that she has passed the commander in chief test, then, is not supported by this record.

Craig: No, I think, look -- I think she would be a capable commander in chief. I think Barack Obama, who is my candidate, would also be a capable commander in chief. I'm not denigrating that. What I'm saying is that when you talk about evidence of experience, you should be accurate as to what your role really was. Here's another example -- she claims that she negotiated the opening of the borders in the former Republic of Macedonia, and she arrived the day after that had been achieved. She traveled there, but she had nothing to do with the negotiations. And Ambassador [Robert] Gelbard, who was very much involved, said that she really didn't play any role in that at all and that it's a mistake and not accurate for her to take credit for it.

Q: And again, of course, you know that the Clinton campaign has said that former senior foreign policy adviser to the Clinton administration, Richard Holbrooke, said she did play a role.

Craig: She claims that she negotiated the opening of the borders -- that's not accurate, and Ambassador Holbrooke would be the first to agree that that's not accurate.

Q: So let's just put this on a scale of one to 10 here. Are we talking exaggeration, or are we talking about something more serious, such as not being truthful?

Craig: Well, I think it's exaggeration. It's inflated résumé. It's in that category. I think she is misleading the American public on the nature of her experience.

Q: But was that experience, do you think, that is -- having a lot of influence with advisers, giving private advice to her husband -- was that experience that has helped prepare her to be commander in chief?

Craig: Oh, I don't doubt that. The point that I am making is that her claims of the nature of that experience are overstated. The fact is she did not sit in on national security meetings. She did not have a security clearance. She did not attend meetings in the situation room. She conducted no negotiations. She did not manage any part of the national security bureaucracy. She did not have her own national security staff. That's the fact. Now the experience that she did have -- watching and sometimes sitting in the room where discussions were going on and also meeting heads of state and foreign ministers -- that is good experience, and it's invaluable to understanding how the world works when it comes to international organizations as well as international negotiations.

Q: Let's talk for a second about your own candidate, Barack Obama. You did say earlier that certainly Senator Clinton's experience as first lady gives her some preparation that is important. She did travel to -- what was it? -- 80 countries, and Barack Obama has been in the Senate just a few years.

Craig: Three years.

Q: How does his foreign policy experience possibly stand up to hers?

Craig: Well, I don't think that you necessarily look at the number of years in Washington as the basis for judging whether someone is going to be a good commander in chief. On that score -- Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld -- they've been many, many years in Washington, D.C. Longevity isn't what you look at. I think what you want to look at is judgment.

The point I would make about Senator Obama is that on foreign policy issues, not only the ones that he has framed and debated in the campaign, but also prior to this -- his speech in 2002, when he laid out the reasons that he was opposed to the invasion of Iraq and the war in Iraq, and those reasons turned out to be prophetic. He actually predicted very much of what has happened in Iraq and why we should not have gone in in the first place. He's served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and he's got a record of good judgments and strong views on this that, I think, make him fully qualified to be a good commander in chief.

Q: OK, well, very interesting perspective from Greg Craig, who is a senior adviser to the campaign of Barack Obama. Greg, thank you so much for being with us.

Craig: Not at all. I enjoyed it.

First Florida, now Michigan joins the do-over primary party

WASHINGTON - Michigan Democrats agreed Friday to push a do-over primary in early June to give them a say in the close presidential race between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.

Amid talks with the two campaigns, the four Michigan Democrats said in a statement they were "focusing on the possibility of a state-run primary in early June which would not use any state funding." Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, one of the Democratic participants, said a likely date is June 3.

"This option would require the passage of legislation by the state legislature, and we look forward to working with the members of the legislature in the coming days to see if this option can be made a reality," the Democrats said.

Other Michigan Democrats working on the plan were Democratic National Committee member Debbie Dingell, Sen. Carl Levin and United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger.

To go forward, any plan would require the approval of the two campaigns, the Democratic National Committee, state party leaders and Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who is backing Clinton.

Michigan Democrats need to act quickly because the politically divided legislature will have to sign off on the deal and approve how to spend the privately raised funds for a new election. Members of the Democratic-controlled state House and Republican-controlled state Senate leave at the end of the month on their two-week spring break.

The contest must be held by June 10 for the results to count under DNC rules.

The national party punished Michigan and Florida for moving up their primaries before Feb. 5, stripping them of all their delegates. The two states have been struggling to come up with alternative plans to ensure their delegates are seated at the national convention this summer in Denver.

Michigan held its primary Jan. 15 and Florida voted Jan. 29. Clinton won both, although she was the only major candidate on the Michigan ballot.

Kilpatrick said although she is optimistic, Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey has expressed concern they may not have the time or manpower to pull it off. She said they are trying to work through those issues.

Florida Democrats said they will make a decision by Monday on whether to hold a dual mail-in and in-person re-vote. But the plan floated this week faces opposition from the state's Democratic congressional delegation, and Obama has also expressed concerns about security and accuracy of a mail-in vote organized so quickly. Democratic National Committee rules require the vote to be scheduled by June 10.

Rare CCTV Footage of Suicide Bombings in Lahore

CCTV Footage of the Twin Suicide Bombings in Lahore

AQ Khan’s family threatens direct action

Henny Khan, the loyal Dutch wife of Dr AQ Khan, has for the first time issued a direct threat to the government, saying the time for “low-profile, patriotism and national interest” is over and if her husband’s situation did not change “we will undertake whatever action we deem necessary”.

Henny Khan, in her first strongly-worded statement since her husband was humiliated and detained by the Musharraf regime in 2004, has now sent a note to The News. Analysts said if the AQ Khan family decided to break their silence, they could grossly embarrass the government and reveal a lot of things that the military regime of General Musharraf had forcibly concealed.

The first impression one gets from this unprecedented communication is that the AQ Khan family had decided to stop acting on the orders of the government to stay in a low-profile mode and had reached the conclusion that now it would not be blackmailed any more in the name of “patriotism and national interest”.

Ms Khan also handed over a list of demands to the present and future government. “As the family, we are not requesting a public profile. All we ask is that Dr AQ Khan be allowed to lead a normal life, attend his NGO office, meet his friends, take his family out for dinner and be given the freedom that was promised by Gen Musharraf himself.”

Ms Khan who left her own country to live with the top nuclear scientist of Pakistan seemed to have finally run out of patience. In recent months, Dina Khan, daughter of AQ Khan, used to defend her father in the media by giving his side of the story on important issues concerning her father.

It is now quite clear that after years of reclusion, the family seems to have decided to challenge all the claims and accusations against Dr Khan and start confronting the government. The family has now vowed that it would use all available means to get freedom for Dr Khan who is in detention for the last four years.

A recent report in The News “AQ Khan’s release not in sight” on March 6 by Qudssia Akhlaque actually made Ms Henny Khan to give her reaction. The report said: “On the future of Dr AQ Khan, sources in the Strategic Plans Division hinted that the status quo would be maintained as it was considered imperative for his own safety and the country’s national security.” The status quo referred to is his so-called “protective custody”.

Henny Khan hit back on Tuesday by saying: “Allow me to point out that three attempts have been made on the life of the president. Is he being kept in protective custody for his own safety, even though there does not seem to be a dearth of those who wish him ill?”

Ms Khan referred to a statement of Ch Shujaat Hussain who had said: “Within this protective framework, we will make all efforts to provide him an environment which is conducive to the health and sanity of a national hero who has played a definite role in creating a nuclear Pakistan.”

Ms Khan commented on Shujaat Hussain’s statement by saying: “Again allow me to point out that, though Mr Shujaat himself was instrumental in negotiating the deal in which Dr Khan was to take the full blame on himself and, in return, was to be granted pardon with full freedom of movement and travel within Pakistan, his government did nothing to implement their part of the deal. Now, after 4 years of broken promises, we hear talk of working within this protective framework.”

She maintained that it was the same Ch Shujaat who, in an interview on Feb 5, 2004, said: “He (AQ Khan) has saved the country a second time”. The report in The News had observed that the dominant view in defence policy circles was that as long as the AQ Khan issue was alive, it would be difficult for Pakistan to give him a public profile.

Reacting to this observation, Henny Khan retorted: “Now it was not acceptable to the family any more as we think the time for low profile, patriotism and national interest is over. We will allow whichever government comes to power sufficient time to take some sort of action in my husband’s case. If nothing is forthcoming, we will undertake whatever action we deem necessary.”

The Best Speech I’ve Ever Heard Steve Jobs Give

With the annual Macworld Conference & Expo set to kickoff this week, you’re probably going to see Steve Jobs and Apple all over the news media. Apple will probably announce the launch of a cool new product and the gadget blogs will be all a buzz to weigh in on the latest news.

While thousands swarm the crowded Moscone Center in San Francisco like they do every year to hear Jobs’ keynote address, I invite you to take a look at one of his other speeches. It is his commencement address given to Stanford University in 2005. I love it because it is very inspirational and he is not trying to sell you on anything except hope. It is quite possibly the best speech I’ve ever heard Steve Jobs give.

10 Surefire First Date Conversation Tips

Photography by Delgoff.

Let’s face it, first dates are tough. After you’ve finally figured out where you’re going to take her, what you’re going to wear, and what cologne to put on, you still have one tall order to fill: What are you going to talk about? This is where many women say most men come up short.

We asked 35 real women to tell us what men should know about conversation on a first date. This is what they said.

1. Make Eye Contact

During your conversation, maintaining good eye contact is crucial. This shows her that you are both paying attention and have nothing to hide. Pretend it’s like Star Trek and use your tractor beam on her, but don’t do the longing eyes googly moogly stuff. Your eye contact should be direct, but remember it’s not a staring contest.

“Eye contact is good, but keep your focus on my face. Do not stare at my chest. When I’m talking, I want to know you’re paying full attention. Don’t stare around the room and definitely don’t glance at your cell phone, even if your best friend just texted the score of the game.” - Gina

2. Be Confident

The same way dogs can smell fear, a woman can smell insecurity a mile away. Don’t think for a second they don’t know the difference between a cocky and confident man. You should project an air of quiet confidence at all times. If you’re insecure, stay home.

“Your date will be just as nervous as you so don’t be shy…because if you’re both quiet the date will be even more uncomfortable.” - Geraldine

3. Follow the 40/60 Rule

There’s a reason why we were born with two ears and only one mouth and that’s because it’s harder and requires much more effort to be a good listener. Give her your full attention. Practice the 40/60 Rule. You should be talking 40% and listening 60% of the time. Two ways to show you are listening is to paraphrase and ask good follow-up questions. You don’t have to tell her your whole life story; just leave clues. If she is interested, she’ll ask you–let her play Nancy Drew.

“Don’t reveal too much on the first date. A little mystery is always appreciated.” - Sylvia

“While a date is about getting to know someone, too many ‘I’s’ comes off as self-centered. Instead, ask ‘Do you’ or ‘Have you,’ wait for response and then add your two cents.” - Pearl

“Don’t brag about your Benz, your money, your house, or your $500 jeans. Unless the girl is a money-hungry hussie, all that superficial crap is not impressive. It’s more irritating than anything.” - Ella Mei

4. Tell Her What You Are Passionate About

When we talk about things we are truly passionate about, there is almost always a certain type of energy or excitement we exude. Tell her about what makes you tick, what gets you going, the projects you are involved with and how much fun you have doing it.

“I wouldn’t have said yes to the first date if I didn’t already think he was cute. On the first date, what I’m really looking for is for him to show me he has some fire under the hood.” - Kelli

5. Make Her Laugh

They say humor is the shortest distance between two people. Heed this advice and make her laugh so hard the pasta noodle comes out her nose. If you can make her laugh at least 5 times during the date, you’re halfway home.

“It’s good to be funny, so make jokes, but don’t be too schtick-y. I would avoid overly sexual jokes, or anything that could be seen as racist or sexist (at least until you get to know her better).” - Emily

“I’ll be honest, if a guy can make me laugh on a first date, there will definitely be a second.” - Patricia

6. Show Her Your Carmen Sandiego Side

Travel is always a great conversation piece. Talk about where you’ve been, what you learned, what you saw, and where you want to go next. If you’ve done your job, she’ll be picturing herself with you on that next trip. Oh and if you’ve never really left the shire all that much–shame on you!

“Nothing interests me more than a guy that is well-traveled. It shows he is willing to step out and see new things. It’s boring when a guy says ‘Oh, I don’t leave the city much’ or ‘I’ve only been to LA and Vegas.’” - Gina

7. Concentrate on Me Too’s

Concentrate on trying to say “me too.” If she says she loves reality shows, you should say me too! (provided that you do like them). This can be done with movies, TV shows, music, books, hobbies and practically anything. The key here is to try to find things that you are both interested in and you’ll find that things get easier from there.

“Relate to her on the same favorite movie or type of movie you like and analyze them with her. Challenge her on what she thought about the ending.” - Mira

“Shoot for something meaningful–not too deep as it will scare her, but meaty enough to have a real exchange about–but also quirky.” - Dominique

8. Show Her You’re Plugged In

Talk about what’s current. You don’t have to know about all the latest celeb gossip or be up on all the current events (chances are she’s not either). But do notice what’s current with her. Maybe she got a new haircut since the last time you saw her at so and so’s party. Or maybe tell her again what caught your eye about her in the first place. Let her know that you notice her (women love that stuff).

“Give her a compliment or make a comment on something you know she specifically wore for the date. It could be an article of clothing, her hair, shoes, or something decorative like a bracelet. Noticing the little details of the effort she’s made goes a long way.” - Lory

9. Don’t Say We Unless You Mean Wii

Even if the date is going really well don’t jump the gun and talk about future plans together. This will only get you more dates with your PS3 or Xbox. Sure it might work with some women, but majority of the time it scares them off.

“Don’t assume a second date is a given or start saying ‘we this’ and ‘we that.’ Take it slow because you don’t want to come on too strong, too soon.” - Danica

10. Don’t Just Be Yourself, Be You-nique

I know you were waiting to hear “Just Be Yourself,” but you are not going to get that stock answer here. Just be yourself is an old standby answer that everyone will tell you because it’s easy to say and also requires no effort. If you are truly into this woman, I challenge you to go above and beyond your usual table talk and be You-nique. Standout! Being you-nique is all about being interesting. Talk about things she’s probably never heard of before. Make her feel like she’s never met anyone else like you. If you follow this last tip just right, I can assure you she’ll be raving to all of her friends about you and calling you for the second date.

***

I’d like to thank all the women who submitted their tips. I truly had a lot of fun writing this piece. If you enjoyed this article please consider emailing it to someone or Digging or Stumbling it. Thanks.

The Top 15 Songs to Get You Pumped Up

photography by flattop341

There are moments in life when you need to get jacked up. They could be when you’re preparing for a big presentation, going to the gym or for a run, getting ready for a big game or just needing to feel the blood and adrenaline rushing through your veins to remind you that you are alive.

Music consisting of a pattern of sounds and silences constructed into an art form is the most consistent way that I know to get amped up. A top 10 list is too restrictive, so I busted out 15 highly diversified, high-octane gems (in no particular order). Enjoy.

“Killing in the Name of” by Rage Against the Machine

Zach de la Rocha brings an unbridled fire that rages through his lyrics, and his pleas for activism make you want to take on the whole world. With a war waging in Iraq, there is no better time than now to dust off this track and listen to Zach’s poetic guttural overture to think and act for ourselves and not do what we’re told.

“Blood” by Pearl Jam

“Blood” is Eddie Vedder’s punch in a 1-2 combination that knocks you down to the canvas looking for oxygen. If you want to lift a small Volkswagen off the ground or just need to get amped at the gym, this track will get you there. This is one of the craziest songs I’ve seen live in concert. With the combination of a strobe light in the background and Eddie going ballistic, the crowd was worked up into such a frenzy that the riot police subsequently quelled with a pepper bomb (like a stink bomb but filled with OC gas).

“Rock N Roll Star” by Oasis

Oasis bangs out this masterpiece that reminds you what you really wanted to be as a kid. You’ll want to take your car and drive really far but there’s no easy way out.

“For Reasons Unknown” by The Killers

The Killers crank out an anthem of longing for that time when things were right and perfect with that special someone. With one deep breath and one big step, Brandon Flowers will get you up and jumping for when your heart beat like it used too.

“Where the Streets Have No Name” by U2

There is never enough that can be said about this magnum opus. The best is the live version from Boston. You could tear down walls and build and burn down love with this as your soundtrack. Because really, it’s all you can do.

“Kickstart My Heart” by Motley Crue

Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars and Tommy Lee created one of the best songs to get you pumped up ever. Their hard-living lifestyle and general decadence was the inspiration for this 80’s anthem.

“In 1987, Sixx suffered a near-fatal heroin overdose. He was declared legally dead on the way to the hospital, but one medic refused to give up and gave Sixx two shots of adrenaline to the heart, bringing him back to life. His few minutes in death were the inspiration for the band’s song “Kickstart My Heart.”

Play it loud enough and you might even be tempted to sky dive naked from an airplane.

“Rock and Roll” by Led Zeppelin

“Rock and Roll” is how the west was won. Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham bust onto the scene in 1968 and we’ve been counting our lucky stars ever since. This should be your first track that you listen to when you get behind the wheel of a Porsche, Ferrari or Lamborghini for the first time. Crank it all the way up, stomp the gas pedal to the floorboard and beg the cops to catch you as you wave them the middle finger. They might carry you back to jail, but you won’t forget about the time you rock and rolled.

“Soldier” by Eminem

Eminem’s “Soldier” is a perfect workout song. You’ll get so jacked up that your shoulders will hold so much, won’t budge, never fall or fold up. Even if your collar bones crush or crumble.

“Hit ‘Em Up” by Tupac

Tupac’s “Hit ‘Em Up” is a lyrical assault on Biggie Smalls. 2Pac accused Biggie of setting him up in regards to his shooting in 1994. What’s better than a revenge song to get you charged up? Nothing because you’re about to feel the wrath of a menace.

“Master of Puppets” by Metallica

“Master of Puppets” is one of the first songs I listened to as a teenager. Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield kick off this killer track with what Total Guitar magazine called “the greatest riff of all time.” If it doesn’t get your blood pumping, you’re clinically dead.

“Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses

Gun’s N’ Roses gives Metallica a run for their money with “Welcome to the Jungle.” You know where you are? You’re in the jungle, baby. You’re gonna die. There’s not much I can add to top your appetite for destruction.

“Cochise” by Audioslave

“Cochise” can best be illustrated by watching the music video. Fireworks mixed with a devilish bass line and Chris Cornell’s throaty rage to go and save yourself. Can you ask for much more?

“Feeling This” by Blink 182

Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker lay all out on “Feeling This.” Show me the bedroom floor. Show me the bathroom mirror. “Feeling This” will show you the way you move. And that I got no regret right now.

“A Decade Under the Influence” by Taking Back Sunday

Taking Back Sunday delivers with “A Decade Under the Influence.” Adam Lazzara and John Nolan’s screaming back and forth that they got a bad feeling about this takes angst to the next level. Juices will be sure to be flowing.

“Johnny B. Goode” by Jimi Hendrix

Finally, Jimi Hendrix finishes off with a live rendition of Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.” Asking the crowd if it’s too loud, they respond “No way!” Ranked by Rolling Stone as the 7th greatest song of all time, the guitar licks and driving beat will have you yelling, “Go, go, Johnny, go, go!” It’s literally a rock-and-roll version of the American dream. For that blessing, we can never give Chuck Berry enough praise.

Did I leave something off the list? Feel free to leave a comment with your top 5.

Gym Etiquette: Do You Make These Mistakes?

The gym represents so many things to different people. For some, it is a safe haven after a taxing day at work. For others, it is a glorified happy hour to pick up dimes (chicks). But for most, the gym is an ally to fight that never ending war: “The Battle of the Bulge.”

Whether you’re a weekend warrior at Average Joe’s Gym or a meat-headed freak from Globo Gym, there are a few rules of etiquette to follow so you don’t end up being “that guy.”

The Fashion Show

Loose clothing is optimal. CLEAN shirts, sweatpants, athletic shorts, and sneakers will do. Please leave the cutoff jean shorts and pajama pants at home.

Wipe Me Down

Imagine Patrick Ewing at the foul line in triple overtime. Now imagine Patrick Ewing bench pressing and no ball boys there to wipe up his mess. Kinda gross. Most gyms have brown paper towels for a reason, so use them when needed or bring your own towel.

Starbucks

Do a few reps, drink a cup of coffee, read the New York Times, update your fantasy team, do another set, wait 15 minutes, then repeat. Are you (expletive) serious!? Stop hogging the equipment. Hogging will only irritate other gym patrons who actually give a (expletive) about their workout.

Avoid Bad Form

What good are all those swinging and swaying motions during your barbell curls if you’re not intending to audition for “So You Think You Can Dance?” Using hip thrust momentum to get that weight up does not impress the judges. Those out-of-control, spastic gyrations only invite injury.

Gym goers should use strict form during their workouts. Lifting weights require controlled movements to achieve that “orgasmic” pump as Arnold refers to. The “pump” is a great indication that you are performing the exercise correctly. One more rep!

Beware of B.O.

There is nothing worse than having someone with rank body odor jump on the treadmill next to you during your workout. Yes, it is true that women can smell pheromones, but they don’t want to smell your stank ass.

Eye Candy

At times the gym can be one big meat market. There is nothing wrong with noticing that Jessica Biel booty walking by, but don’t make it a staring contest. Next time, use the mirrors at a 45 degree angle to check out that hottie.

10 Guys and a Bench

Workout partners are great to have on so many levels. A partner to push you to your max is the best supplement a guy could have in his diet. But do you really need 10 guys to spot you? One person lifts, then the next, then the next, etc. It’s like a merry-go-round. This falls into the same category of the Starbucks idea. How many more sets you guys got? “We’ll be here for awhile” is not the answer I want to hear.

Nice Rack

All gyms require you to re-rack your weights when you’re done. It would bother me too if I couldn’t find the matching dumbbell that’s on the other side of the gym.

Man in the Mirror

People fail to realize that the mirror is a great workout tool but not so much for narcissistic purposes. Use the mirror to check if your form is up to par. When you see your muscles being worked, veins start popping out, and you know that it’s working. Seeing is believing. Like equipment, the mirror must be shared with all gym goers. Jumping in front of someone during their seated military press will disrupt their focus and make them go “Hulk Smash” on your head.

I’m sure there are tons of other points I have not touched on. Feel free to leave some of your suggestions in the comments section.

Shower with 100 Women? Yes, Please.

images courtesy of The Shower Project

This is one of those stories where someone tells you about it, and you automatically want to check it out because you’re like no fuckin way.

“The Shower Project Goal: Shower with 100 women by the end of 1999 and document it.

It has been almost a decade now since “The Shower Project” was launched, but still to this day I find it truly remarkable that this man actually pulled it off.

Project Background: I work in the film industry and about a year and a half ago on the set of a film, the grip/electric guys were convinced I was pretending to be gay to “get” women. They would walk by me when I had my arm around a women and whisper things like, “We’re on to you, Brian.” Anyway, to taunt my taunters I thought I would shower with several of these women and take a picture of it. I thought about it and talked about it and finally obsession set in and I set a goal to shower with 100 women by the end of the year. “

So do you have a favorite girl from the shower project? (I like Girl #94 & #98) Let us know who your favorite girl was by leaving a comment below.

Note: There is no nudity on the site.

How to Keep the Woman in Your Life Happy

Since the dawn of mankind, men and women have boggled their minds trying to understand one another. Moreover, men have struggled to figure out what it takes to make the women in their lives happy.

Honestly guys, while women can be very complex, most don’t require much to keep them happy. I asked both single and attached women alike, “What does it take to keep you happy in a relationship?” In no particular order, here’s how they answered in the form of ten helpful tips.

1) Be yourself. This is the probably the easiest piece of advice one could give you, but it’s simply the truth. For instance, don’t act like a “bad boy” just because she’s only dated “bad boys” in the past. There’s a reason why she fell for you in the first place, so just continue being yourself, cause it’s working for you.

2) Do little things for her. Offer to pick-up her dry cleaning or buy her a bag of her favorite gummy bears; these simple gestures show that you care and are thinking of her on a regular basis, says Patty, 26. There’s a fine line though, she continues, “Don’t get whipped. You gotta have some of your own stances to remain of interest to her.”

3) Appreciate her. Remember to say please and thank you, and don’t be afraid to tell her that you appreciate all she does for you. Nidia, 28 says, “I have a sense of value about myself and I want to know that he values me just as much.” Not taking each other for granted and appreciating her is key in a good relationship.

4) Keep your eyes on her. Girls get that guys have a wandering eye—a Victoria Secret model look-alike comes in your line of vision, and we know you’re going to gawk! (Girls do it too, but we’re just more tactful and/or slick about it.) When you’re with your girl, be respectful and keep all googly-eyed staring to a minimum. This is not to say only have eyes for her, but definitely be mindful that this behavior may bother her and mess with her self-confidence.

5) Keep her laughing. A good sense of humor is another no-brainer way to keep your girl. Kudos to you if making her laugh comes naturally, but don’t worry if she doesn’t get your humor right off. Keep her laughing, as “it will be harder to make her mad with a smile on both your faces,” proclaims Patricia, 29.

6) Take interest in something she’s passionate about. You love sports and she loves the ballet. It’s not necessary to be into the same things, however, understanding the reasons why she’s passionate about ballet wouldn’t be a bad idea. Showing interest in something she cares about shows you care about her, and infinitely makes her feel good about herself and the relationship.

7) Keep yourself groomed. Okay, you got her…but that’s not an open invitation to stop caring about your appearance! Keep eating healthy and hitting the gym. Continue to shave (unless she likes you scruffy), trim unwanted ear and nose hairs, and wear clean and stylish clothes. (If you never cared much about these grooming rituals, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start.)

8) Be open to getting to know her family and friends. “If he is open to the idea [of getting to know them], it means he cares about knowing who is important in your life, and the people that helped shape the way you are,” states Kyla, 25. It’s a great way to show your gal that you’re serious; a commitment statement. “Also, having a guy who is confident enough to have fun hanging out with [your] friends is a great trait.”

9) Be considerate. For instance, if you’re running late to meet her or decided to join a few co-workers for drinks before heading home, be considerate and let her know. I know what you’re probably thinking—it’s unnecessary because you don’t keep tabs on each other and she’s not your “keeper”. That’s not the case at all. “Telling us ahead of time that you have to cancel or are running late is always a good idea and will result in a better outcome…especially if an argument is involved,” says Patricia, 29.

10) Be open to trying new things. Don’t let your relationship become too predictable and monotonous. Keep things fresh – be willing to try new things together. “It keeps [the relationship] enjoyable and you learn more about the person’s likes and dislikes,” Monina, 25 says.

Obviously, there are some girls that require much more attention and care than the aforementioned. Provided she’s not super needy or a gold-digger, following these simple tips can make a difference in your relationship, whether it’s new and blossoming or long-term and solid.

Evolution of a Manager

New Manager

 10 PRINT "HELLO WORLD"
 20 END

Middle Manager

 mail -s "Hello, world." bob@b12

 Bob, could you please write me a program that prints "Hello, world."?

I need it by tomorrow.

^D

Senior Manager

 % zmail jim

I need a "Hello, world." program by this afternoon.

Chief Executive

 % letter
 letter: Command not found.

% mail
 To: ^X ^F ^C

% help mail
 help: Command not found.

% damn!
 !: Event unrecognized

% logout

Kershaw has stuff to make team

FT. MYERS, Fla. -- The Dodgers don't want to rush Clayton Kershaw. But their fifth-starter job is up for grabs and left-handers with 97-mph fastballs don't grow on trees.

For now, Kershaw remains in Minor League camp. But his debut with the big leaguers earlier this week was eye-catching. It's now assumed he will be a Major Leaguer this year, the only question is when.

Could it be by Opening Day?

"I wouldn't be surprised," said Russell Martin, who caught Kershaw's inning against Washington on Tuesday night.

"For the first time in a big league game -- wow. He's got just a heavy, heavy fastball and an easy delivery. He's very deceptive. His curveball, it just drops off the table. I think it's the best curveball I've ever caught, to be honest. He keeps the ball down. You can see he's a tremendous competitor, giving up a home run to the first batter, getting into a bases-loaded jam and bearing down to strike out two guys to get out of it.

"It's just how easy he throws. He's mechanically sound. I don't think he needs to learn anything mechanically. He looks polished. He wasn't holding anything back, he was just going after it. He's only 19. Man, that's impressive."

Martin said even with the hype that has accompanied Kershaw, he saw things he didn't expect.

"A left-hander throwing 97 with a power curve, that's pretty unique," Martin said. "And he's got a changeup, but he only used it once. He didn't really need it. They couldn't get the bat head out, so why help them? I heard a lot of things about the guy, but I like to make my own opinion. A lot of young guys get called up early and have done well. Hopefully, he can be one of those guys."

Kershaw, a first-round Draft pick in 2006, will turn 20 on March 19. Fernando Valenzuela was still 19 when he debuted as a Dodgers reliever and 20 when he backed into an Opening Day start in 1981. The next thing the Dodgers knew, it was Fernandomania.

The Fernandos come along about once a generation. The Dodgers thought they might have had another one in Edwin Jackson, who debuted on his 20th birthday in 2003 and beat Randy Johnson. But a quick flameout (he's trying to rebound after a trade to Tampa Bay) makes Jackson the poster child for rushed talent wasted.

If the Jackson debacle isn't enough to make management cautious, there also are the cases of high school left-handers Greg Miller and Scott Elbert, whose promising careers have been slowed by injuries.

So management must weigh whether Kershaw is one of the five best starting pitchers in the organization on Opening Day, against whether his career is best served with more seasoning. It's entirely likely that both are true.

Jason Schmidt won't be ready the first time the fifth-starter spot comes up April 8. Esteban Loaiza is the leading candidate, with Hong-Chih Kuo, Eric Stults and Jason Johnson in the mix. But none of them can make scouts row buzz like Kershaw.

"I wouldn't be shocked," pitching coach Rick Honeycutt said of Kershaw opening the season in his rotation. "The stuff is there -- it's electric. His poise is uncanny for his age. But is all the other stuff there? Is it a complete package? You can go back to Edwin Jackson, but this guy is primarily a pitcher, whereas Edwin was a converted position player -- an athlete.

"I've only seen Clayton pitch one inning of a Minor League game and one inning of our game. You look at his stats and see he had more walks than you want to see for the level (67 in 122 innings last year). So you just want to be sure he's fully equipped before you throw him into the situation. It's only a matter of time. But when's the right time for the young man?"

Honeycutt said there are no specific plans for Kershaw to pitch in another Major League exhibition game, as the current pitchers in camp need their innings, but he hoped to see Kershaw in one or two games before the club leaves Florida for Arizona on March 17.

Clayton Kershaw Has Curves

I tell you, that curve is a thing of beauty. When a 19-year-old A-ball prospect — a highly-touted one, yes, but still — can buckle the knees of a decent major league hitter with his stuff, it’s pretty special. The kid needs to make the majors one day so I can watch curveballs like that all the time.

Kershaw’s performance in Florida has brought out the Promote Him to Los Angeles crazies. I mean, yes, our fifth starter currently appears to be Esteban Loaiza. That’s a little disconcerting. But it doesn’t mean the Dodgers can’t do well, and it certainly doesn’t mean there’s any reason to rush Kershaw to the majors before he’s ready.

According to The Baseball Cube, Kershaw’s career minor league stats are like this:

10-7, 159 IP, 117 H, 217 K, 72 BB, 17 WP, 2.72 ERA, 1.19 WHIP

Divide those up by levels for better analysis.

GCL Dodgers (Rookie): 2-0, 37 IP, 28 H, 54 K, 5 BB, 8 WP, 1.95 ERA, 0.89 WHIP
Great Lakes Loons (A): 7-5, 97.1 IP, 72 H, 134 K, 50 BB, 8 WP, 2.77 ERA, 1.25 WHIP
Jacksonville Suns (AA): 1-2, 24.2 IP, 17 H, 29 K, 17 BB, 1 WP, 3.65 ERA, 1.38 WHIP

I put wild pitches in there because I think, combined with his walk rate, it’s indicative of how he needs to develop better control — even when he’s not walking people, he’s still a little unrefined in the control department. At Great Lakes, he had a walk rate of over 4 1/2 walks per nine innings, and when he got to Jacksonville, it jumped to over six walks per nine innings. That’s a lot of walks. To his credit, his hit rates are all under 7 per nine and his strikeout rates are all over 10 per nine, but this is all minor league stuff. I’m no expert, but I don’t think that, in the majors, his walks would go down and he’d maintain the hit and K rates. Call me crazy.

If we see him in September, I’m okay with that, but I’d hate for him to be rushed to the majors just because someone had a panic attack about how our fifth starter isn’t very good. That’s why he’s a fifth starter. That’s no cause for alarm given what we have in the rest of the rotation. If we had held on to Brett Tomko and Mark Hendrickson and planned to use them as starters, then yeah, I’d worry, but that’s not the case. The Dodgers need to be careful with this kid and not trade him anywhere and then bring him up when he can’t possibly abuse minor league hitting any further. Rushing him could be costly. Maybe it won’t be, but is that a chance you want to take?

The kid has a serious heater and a nasty curve, and I can’t wait to see him make the big club. Now is just not the time.

Kershaw will stay a while with Dodgers

he day that started with Manager Joe Torre's maintaining that the 19-year-old left-hander wasn't contending for a spot in the rotation ended with his revealing that the organization's top prospect would spend the remainder of the spring in major league camp. The decision to move up Kershaw from minor league camp, Torre said, was made before Kershaw threw only 10 pitches in a 1-2-3 fourth inning in the Dodgers' 4-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday in front of 9,293, the largest crowd to ever see a game at Holman Stadium.

"It won't hurt him to be around the camp and be able to have the experience," said Torre, reemphasizing the Kershaw wasn't being looked at as a potential member of the rotation.

Kershaw said he was surprised by the news, which was first delivered to him by pitching coach Rick Honeycutt.

"I'm pretty excited," he said.

And, from Russell Martin's view behind home plate, pretty spectacular.

"He keeps his fastball down and knee high," Martin said. "There's not really much you can do with a 96-mile-per-hour fastball knee high. And he has that tremendous breaking ball. The hitters have to pick one because if they're sitting on one, they can't hit the other. He's pitching like a major-league pitcher. You can just tell by how the hitters are reacting to his stuff, getting jammed, buckling on curveballs."

Buckling on one of those curveballs and striking out looking to end the inning was Sean Casey. Earlier, Kershaw retired Mike Lowell on a popup and J.D. Drew on a broken-bat groundout.

"I wish he had a Red Sox uniform on," Boston Manager Terry Francona said. "I can see why he's the buzz of spring training."

Relayed Francona's words, Torre replied with a grin, "Tell him it's tampering and I'll report him to the commissioner's office."

In a more serious moment, Torre stressed the importance of not rushing the kid.

"The thing that we have to make sure we put first is what's best for him," Torre said. "What's best for him is going to be the best for the organization in the long term."

Loaiza impressive

Esteban Loaiza, who is in line to be the Dodgers' fifth starter, struck out four batters over three scoreless innings. His health problems behind him, Loaiza said he has been able to be consistent with his throwing motion, something he struggled to do in his injury-riddled 2007 season.

Torre was impressed, noting how Loaiza worked his way through a Red Sox lineup that included David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Lowell.

On the mend

Closer Takashi Saito said that he didn't feel any pain in his strained right calf during fielding drills and that he would throw a side session today. "I'd have to put more pressure on my leg, so I still feel uncertain. But if I'm afraid, I can't advance." . . . With Andruw Jones by his side to translate, Torre spoke to infield prospect Tony Abreu, who rushed himself back from an injury only to hurt himself again in his spring debut Friday. "I just let him know that we want to get him well," Torre said. . . . Nomar Garciaparra remained sidelined because of swelling in his right hand. . . . Backup catcher Gary Bennett, who was inactive for two days because of back spasms, resumed activity. . . . Mark Sweeney, who had his knee drained last week, also started working out again. . . . Until Sunday, the largest crowd to see a game at Holman Stadium was 9,028 fans on March 10, 1991 for a contest against the New York Mets. . . . Matt Kemp's second home run of the spring was a monster, a three-run shot against Daisuke Matsuzaka that cleared the grassy knoll behind the left-field fence.

Lawmaker wants you to show yourself online

One of the great things about the internet is to be able to post on forums or leave comments somewhere yet remain completely anonymous. Well if one Kentucky lawmaker has his way, anonymous internet postings may be going the way of the buffalo.

Representative Tim Couch filed a bill this week to make anonymous posting online illegal. The bill would require anyone who contributes to a website to register their real name, address and e-mail address with that site. Their full name would be used anytime a comment is posted.

If the bill becomes law, the website operator would have to pay if someone was allowed to post anonymously on their site. The fine would be five-hundred dollars for a first offense and one-thousand dollars for each offense after that.

He says it will cut down on online bullying...but c'mon, isn't that half the fun of posting online?

Ethan Bortnick Makes His Second Appearance on the Tonight Show

I don’t have a faint clue as to who he is, but Ethan will be appearing to promote his newly released DVD and CD - “Live in Concert By Me Ethan Bortnick” on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on March 10, 2008.

Young Musician, Pianist, Composer Ethan Bortnick will be on a promotional tour, promoting the in-store release of his first ever live DVD titled “Live in Concert - ‘By Me’ - Ethan Bortnick.” Ethan is making history as the youngest entertainer, composer and musician to record a DVD with his own live concert for worldwide distribution.

The first stop is the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on March 10, 2008. Ethan will be chatting with Jay Leno and then performing some of his pieces from the DVD.

Ethan has performed solo concerts and has also performed for live audiences of over 20,000 people on many occasions. Ethan has wowed audiences with his skills and personality and has played to the astonishment of Patti LaBelle, Jay Leno, Cameron Diaz, Diane Sawyer, Nelly Furtado, Jason Alexander, Rush Limbaugh, Pamela Anderson, Martha Stewart, John Voight, and many more musicians and celebrities.

“Ethan has the makings of a virtuoso; he has perfect pitch, plays over 200 songs from memory, and exhibits extreme improvisational skills,” says producer and Managing Partner of Savor Records, Lily Saborit.